Surfcraft

ABSTRACT

A craft for supporting a rider on the water in the form of an elongate, substantially planar member having a top riding surface, and a bottom planing surface where the planar member includes an inner inflatable bladder secured within an outer sleeve wherein said sleeve includes the top riding surface and the bottom planning surface.

The present invention relates to surfcraft. In particular the presentinvention relates to a craft for riding on the surface of the water. Thecraft of the present invention is in the form of a bodyboard or thelike. Such craft may be propelled by the motion of the waves or surf.

Buoyant boards have been utilised as surfcraft. Over the past 20 yearsbodyboards have developed from the original “boogie boards” and avariety of surfcraft such as bodyboards are currently available.Generally bodyboards are formed from panels of closed cell polymericfoam. Typically, such surfcraft are just over a metre in length andabout half a metre in width. Generally, these surfcraft are awkward tostore and to transport due to their size and shape.

Inflatable surfcraft have been produced and are generally similar inconstruction to inflatable beds and have only a single skin. Suchinflatable craft generally lack the necessary stiffness and hydrodynamicproperties to provide an acceptable level of performance to make themfeasible alternatives to surfcraft made out of rigid materials such asclosed cell polymeric foam.

We have now found that by providing an inflatable bladder within anouter sleeve where the outer sleeve forms a top riding surface and abottom planing surface it is possible to produce an inflatable surfcraftwith improved hydrodynamic performance. According to the presentinvention there is provided a craft for supporting a rider on the waterin the form of an, elongate, substantially planar member having a topriding surface, a bottom, planing surface wherein said planar membercomprises an inner inflatable bladder secured within an outer sleevewherein said sleeve comprises the top riding surface and the bottom,planing surface.

The inflatable bladder may preferably be constructed from any suitablematerial. Suitable materials are capable of being sealed to form an airtight bladder. Desirably the materials used to form the bladder aresufficiently flexible to be rolled up in a deflated condition but aresufficiently rigid in an inflated condition such that a rider may besupported on the surfcraft without significant deformation. We havefound that by minimising the deformation of the surfcraft thehydrodynamic properties can be maintained. For example, it is preferredthat a heavy duty PVC ranging from 18 to 30 gauge PVC be used to formthe inflatable bladder. The PVC is ultrasonically welded. The inflatablebladder preferably includes valve for inflating and deflating thebladder. A variety of valves may be suitable. For example, a retractablevalve is particularly preferred so that is does not protrude from thesurfcraft. A vinyl stem retractable valve may be used. The valve may beconfigured to engage with a mechanical pump.

It is preferred that the inner inflatable bladder be shapedsubstantially in conformity with the desired shape of the surfcraftalthough the outer sleeve may be used to constrain the inflatablebladder to a desired shape.

The inner inflatable bladder is of ribbed construction so as to retain aplanar shape. The inflatable bladder may also be seamed or bonded inother configurations whereby a relatively planar elongate bladder isproduced once the bladder is inflated.

The inflatable bladder may be removed from the outer sleeve forcleaning, replacement or repair. The bladder may be removed from outersleeve via an opening in the tail which is sealed with a hook and loopfastener such as Velcro™.

The outer sleeve or cover may serve to constrain the inflatable bladderto the desired shape. The outer sleeve has an upper riding surface and alower planing surface. The upper riding surface and the lower planingsurface may be joined directly or may be preferably joined by a sidegusset.

The outer sleeve may include a variety of optional features. For examplea leash attachment may be provided on the nose of the surfcraft.Preferably handles and knuckle guards may also be provided on the noseof the surfcraft. It is preferred that leash attachment, handles andknuckle guards be formed integrally with the outer sleeve. In apreferred configuration, a leash attachment, handles and knuckle guardsare provided integrally on the outer sleeve at each corner of the noseof the surfcraft.

Preferably the outer sleeve is a sewn and laminated sheath made from aheavy-duty nylon fabric. A nylon fabric ranging from 240 to 840 denieris preferred. The outer sleeve may preferably include on the upperriding surface a panel on which a rider may be located. Preferably thepanel may be formed from padded material and provide the rider with adegree of comfort and protection. It is particularly preferred that thepanel is formed from a soft material such as neoprene or terry-clothmaterial and act as a body protector.

The upper surface may also include provision for the inflation valve ofthe inflatable bladder to be extended therethrough for ready access forinflation and deflation without having to remove the bladder from thesleeve.

The leash attachment may be in the form of an aperture extending througha handle. Alternatively the leash attachment may be formed as anaperture through the outer sleeve.

The handle may be attached to the outer sleeve or be formed integrallytherewith. The handle may also be attached to or formed integrally withthe inner inflatable bladder and extend through the outer sleeve.Typically the handle may be formed from closed cell polymeric foam.

The knuckle guard preferably extends from the handle and is formed froma soft material such as neoprene on terry cloth.

The bottom, planing surface of the outer sleeve may be formed fromheavy-duty nylon fabrics ranging from 240 to 840 denier. In analternative configuration the bottom, planing surface may include finsor other configurations adapted to provide improved hydrodynamicproperties. In one alternative embodiment, the bottom, planing surfacemay include a ridgid panel wherein said rigid panel may further includefins or the like.

Preferably the tail of the bottom, planing surface includes a drainageport for allowing water to be removed from inside the outer sleeve. Thedrainage port may preferably be in the form of a plasticised nylon mesh.By providing a drainage port at the rear of the surfcraft, any waterthat collects behind the outer corner and the bladder may be drained bystanding the surfcraft upright. It is preferred that the drainage portextends across the width of the tail of the surfcraft.

Preferably the outer sleeve includes a closure system such as a Velcroclosure to retain the inner inflatable bladder securely within the outersleeve.

Preferably the surfcraft of the present invention is substantiallyplanar having a narrowed nose section and a tail in the form of aswallowtail or bat-wing.

Advantageously the surfcraft of the present invention may be deflatedand compacted for storage and transport. In the embodiment where thebottom, planing surface is of rigid material the surfcraft may bestacked in a deflated state. Alternatively where the bottom planingsurface is of flexible material, such as heavy duty nylon or of aflexible, semi-rigid material, the surfcraft may be deflated and rolledup for storage and transport.

The present invention will now be described with reference to thefollowing drawings. It will be appreciated that the accompanyingdrawings are provided for illustrative purposes and do not limit thescope of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of the outer sleeve of a surfcraft of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom plan view of the outer sleeve shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the inflatable bladder of the surfcraftof the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a surfcraft of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the surfcraft shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the surfcraft shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the surfcraft shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the surfcraft shown in FIG. 4.

The outer cover 2 of the surfcraft 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a top ridingsurface 3 on which is disposed a neoprene or similar material bodyprotector panel 4. The tail section 15 of the top riding surface 3 is inthe form of a bat-wing design. A foamed padded handle 5 is disposed oneach corner of the nose section of the upper riding surface 3.Associated with the handles 5 are knuckle guards 6 formed of neoprene orsimilar material. The handles 5 incorporate leash attachment apertures 7to which a leash (not shown) may be affixed.

The top riding surface 3 includes an aperture through which theinflation valve 14 of the bladder (not shown) can be accessed. The outersleeve 2 also includes a side gusset 12.

The outer cover 3 also includes a bottom planing surface 8 shown in FIG.2. At the tail of the outer sleeve is disposed a nylon draining mesh 11to allow water to be removed from inside the outer sleeve 3. A Velcroclosure 10 is also disposed on the bottom planing surface 8. The handle5, knuckle guard 6 and the leash attachment 7 can also be seen from thebottom view, as can the side gusset 12.

FIG. 3 shows a bladder 21 substantially conforming to the shape of theouter sleeve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bladder is retained in asubstantially planar configuration by seams 22 that form ribs 20. Thebladder 21 is provided with an inflation valve 14.

FIG. 4 is a digital photograph of the surfcraft 1 shown in plan form inFIGS. 1 to 3. The outer cover 2 of surfcraft 1 has a neoprene bodyprotector panel 4. The tail section 15 of the top riding surface 3 is inthe form of a bat-wing design. A foamed padded handle 5 is disposed oneach corner of the nose section of the surfcraft 1. The top ridingsurface 3 includes an aperture through which the inflation valve 14 ofthe bladder (not shown) can be accessed.

FIG. 5 is a front view of surfcraft 1. The handles 5 can be seen at eachcorner. FIG. 6 shows a rear view of surfcraft 1. The drainage mesh 11 isshown on the bottom planing surface 8.

FIG. 7 shows the bottom view of surfcraft 1. Surfcraft 1 includes abottom planing surface 8 shown in FIG. 2. The handles 5 can also be seenfrom the bottom view. FIG. 8 is a side view of surfcraft 1 and shows theside gusset 12.

It will be appreciated that the invention described above may be subjectto improvements and modifications that will be apparent withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.

1. A craft for supporting a rider on the water in the form of anelongate, substantially planar member having a top riding surface, and abottom, planing surface wherein said planar member comprises an innerinflatable bladder secured within an outer sleeve wherein said sleevecomprises the top riding surface and the bottom, planing surface.
 2. Acraft according to claim 1 wherein the top riding surface is formed fromneoprene or terry cloth material.
 3. A craft according to claim 1wherein the bottom, planing surface is formed from a heavy duty nylonfabric having fibres ranging from 240 to 840 denier.
 4. A craftaccording to claim 1 wherein the inner inflatable bladder is formed fromheavy duty polyvinylchloride of thickness in the range of from 18 to 30gauge.
 5. A craft according to claim 1 wherein the inner inflatablebladder is of ribbed construction so as to retain a planar shape.
 6. Acraft according to claim 1 wherein the outer sleeve is formed from aheavy duty nylon fabric having fibres ranging from 240 to 840 denier. 7.A craft according to claim 1 wherein the outer sleeve has a tailincluding a drainage port allowing water to be removed from the sleeve.8. A craft according to claim 7 wherein the drainage port is in the formof a plasticised nylon mesh.
 9. A craft according to claim 1 wherein theouter sleeve includes opposed handles for the rider in the form ofclosed cell polymeric foam covered with a nylon fabric.